Key case



Feb. 10, 1925- 1,525,849

v w. R. BUXTON KEY CASE Filed Sept. 28. 1923 INVENTOR zmw KM M/w ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNI TEID "S TATE-S PATENT OFFICE.

TAR/NEE, R. BUXTQN,-OF LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB/TO BUXTON, IN- CORPORATED, AZCORPQRAT'ION OFiMASSACHUSETTS.

KEY CASE.

Application filed. September as, 1923. Serial No. 665,396.

Tutdl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVARNER R. BUX'roN, a -cit-izen of the United States, residing at Longmeadow, in the cotmty of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Key Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in I key cases.

The object of the invention is to provide,

Another object of the invention is to provide a retaining device, for the purposes described, which is detachably connected to the case and can be applied as readily to existing key cases as to those in process of manufacture. That is, the invention seeks to provide a retaining device of-such a character as not to require changes in the general-key case structure now in ogue.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retaining clip and means for detachably connecting it to a key case, as to the hollow cylindrical metal portion from which the key holders are suspended,-such means including a part to lie within the key case, which part has diverging spring arms carrying trunnions to fit in said cylindrical por' tion.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the i1 lustrative embodiment of the invention, in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a. front elevational view of an open key case embodying the intention Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the key I case when closed and inverted in the position in which it would be carried in the pocket;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational iew of Fig. 2; and p Fig. 4 is .an enlarged fragmentary view showing .a preferred type of trunnion for 1 connection to the key case.

Referring to these drawings; the invention has-been shownas-embodie'd 1n a comparatively small key case, having only two key lholders it. Such a .case is frequently used for.automobilelkeys and is of such size and shape as to conveniently fit into thev'est pocket /Vhen'the case is so carried, .however, there is danger of it falling out when a person stoops over and hence the desirability of providing some means to 'releasably hold it in place, The invention, obviously, is adaptable to key cases of other sizes and shapes ,and is largely independent of the particular mechanical construction and arrangement of the key .case,the one case illustrated being given by way of illustrative example.

The particular style of key case chosen as a background for this invention, includes a case forming member 10, which is usually a strip of flexible material such as leather or the like, the central portion 11 of which constitutes the back of the case and the end portions 12 of which are foldable in overlapping relation over back 11 to enclose the key holders h Suitable means, such as male and female fasteners 13 and 1 1, respectively. are provided on flaps 12 for the purpose of detachably securing them together when folded in overlapping relation.

The key holders '71., whether of the pure swinging type or of the swivelled type, are usually suspended from a comparatively rigid metal plate, such as 15, which is suitably secured, as by rivets 16, to the back 11 of the key case near the upper edge thereof. In the majority of cases, the upper edge of plate 15 is rolled over to form a hollow cylindrical portion 17, in which the key holders are pivoted or 'swivelled, as the case may be, and such portion is transversely slotted at intervals, as at 18, to allow the key holders h to swing into and out of the case.

The retaining clip is shown at 20 and it is, of course, located outside the case and preferably lies adjacent the outer face of the back. For certain reasons, later to appear, it is desirable to locate the clip at that end of the ease remote from plate 15, although the invention, in all aspects, is

not restricted to this particular location. The clip 20, which may advantageously be of flat, thin metal, has an integral part 21 which is bent backwardly thereupon and extends toward plate 15, being disposed within the key case and entirely out of view when the case is closed. The part 21 is adapted for connection to the plate 15 and, while various ways of making this attachment may be used, I prefer to accomplish the result in the manner illustrated. That is, the part 21 is split, or divided longitudinally, as shown at 22, forming two arms 23 which are bent outwardly in diverging relation forming approximately a fork. The free end portions of arms 23 are preferably brought into substantially parallel relation and then inturned to provide portions 24L, which are adapted to fit within the cylindrical portion 17. For the purpose of restraining or limiting the lateral movement of clip 20, I prefer to have the arms 23 abut, or substantially abut, the end faces of member 17 and'for the same reason it is also desirable that the portions 24 have a reasonably close fit within the interior walls of the cylindrical portion 17. Therefore, I prefer to bend the portions 24 into substantially semi-cylindrical form, as shown in Fig. 4, and about such a radius that the outer face of the part 24: will lie closely adjacent, and substantially conform to the curvature of, the interior wall of portion 17.

By preference, the clip 20, at or near that portion which curves over the lower edge of the case to join the portion 21, is split longitudinally, as at 25, for a short distance to divide the clip into three separate parts 26. The central part 26 is then struck out to lie beyond the adjacent parts, whereby the equivalent of an eye 27 is provided to which a retaining chain may be attached, if so desired.

In use, the clip is applied by slipping it over back 11 working from the bottom end thereof and applying the clip so that part 21 lies within the case. VVit-h the parts thus positioned, the arms 23 are sprung apart enough to allow the inturned ends 2A to pass into the holes. in the ends of member 17.

It will be readily apparent that the clip is so constructed as to require no change whatever in the general key case structure and that it is applicable alike to old and new cases. The manufacturer not only does not have to change his manufacturing methods but he does not have to stock anything but the standard key cases and the clips. Then, when a case witha clip is desired, the clip can be quickly and conveniently applied to the standard key case or the clips may be sold to the users of key cases who can easily make the attachment themselves.

Importance is attached to the connection of the clip to the key case at such a loca tion as to obtain the advantage of the rigidity of plate 15. Any pull or sideWise strain imposed on clip 20, is transmitted to plate 15, which is adapted to adequately resist such strains, and the strains are not imposed on the flexible material of the case. Also by having the clip disposed at that end of the case opposite from plate 15, added rigidity of support for the clip is obtained and the clip is held closely against back 10 at all times. By the provisions, above described, the hook is held against any substantial longitudinal displacements in either direction and its side play is limited, 01' restricted, so that the clip at all times, remains substantially in its proper location centrally of the case.

The invention has been disclosed herein in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims 7 rather than by the foregoing description.

lVhat I claim is:

1. The combination in a key case, having a flexible case forming member and a substantially non-flexible member thereto, of a retaining clip disposed adjacent the outer face of the first named member and having a part cooperating with the second named member to rigidly support the clip from the case.

2. The combination in a key case, having a flexible case forming member and a substantially non-flexible member secured thereto, of a retaining clip disposed adjacent the outer face of the first named member and having a part for connection with the second named member to anchor it in place in the case.

3. The combination in a key case, having a substantially rigid part from which the key holders are suspended, of a retaining clip disposed outside the case and having a part extending within the case and detachably connected to the first named part.

4. The combination in a key case, having a back and foldable flaps and a part secured to the back near one edge from which part the key holders are suspended, of a retaining clip disposed on the outer face of the back near its opposite edge and having a part bent backwardly thereupon over said last named edge and extendingalong the inner face of the back to said first named part and connected thereto.

5. The combination in a key case, having a back and foldable flaps and a part secured to the back near one edge from which part the key holders are suspended, of a retaining clip disposed on the outer face of the back near its opposite edge and having a part bent backwardly thereupon over said last named edge and extending along the inner face of the back, said last named part secured being forked at its free end and the ends of said forked portion being detachably connected to said first named part.

6. The combination in a key case, having a back and foldable flaps and a hollow cylindrical member secured to the back near one edge from which the key holders are suspended, of a retaining clip disposed on the outer face of the back near its opposite edge and having a part bent backwardly thereupon over said last named edge and extending along the inner face of the back, said last named part having diverging spring arms the ends of which are turned inwardly and are adapted to be received in the open ends of said hollow cylindrical member.

7. The combination in a key case, having a back and foldable fiaps and a hollow cylindrical member secured to the back near one edge from which the key holders are suspended, of a retaining clip disposed on the outer face of the back near its opposite edge and having a part bent backwardly thereupon over said last named edge and extending along the inner face of the back, said last named part having diverging spring arms the ends of which are turned inwardly and are adapted to be received in the open ends of said hollow cylindrical member and are curved to conform to and closely fit the interior wall thereof.

8. A retaining clip, having a part bent backwardly upon the clip portion and extending therebeyond, said part being provided with diverging arms and the ends of said arms being provided with inturned portions extending toward one another and forming trunnions.

9. A retaining clip, having a part bent backwardly upon the clip portion and extending therebeyond, said part being provided with diverging spring arms and the ends of said spring arms being provided with trunnions.

10. The combination in a key case, having a substantially rigid part from which the key holders are suspended, of a retaining clip disposed outside the side and having a part which curves over one edge of the case and extends inwardly for connection to said rigid part, said part of the clip being divided longitudinally into a plurality of sections one of which is bent upwardly beyond the rest to provide an eye to receive a retaining chain or the like.

11. The combination with a key case, having a flexible case forming member, of a retaining clip comprising an outer part disposed adjacent the outer face of said member and having a free spring end forming the entrance to the clip, and an inner part by means of which the clip is secured to the case, said inner part connected to the outer part at a point remote from said free end and extending backwardly thereupon inside the case along the opposite face of said member to a position substantially beyond said free end to provide a stable support for the clip and at such position connected to the case. 4

12. The combination with a key case, having a flexible case forming member, of a retaining clip comprising an outer part disposed adjacent the outer face of said member and having a free spring end forming the entrance to the clip, and an inner part by means of which the clip is secured to the case, said inner part connected to the outer part at a point remote from said free end and extending backwardly thereupon inside the case along the opposite face of said member to a position substantially beyond said free end to provide a stable support for the clip, said inner part being provided with laterally spread portions to stabilize the support against tilting.

, 13. The combination in a key case, having a flexible case forming member, of a retaining clip disposed outside said member and having a part connected therewith adjacent one edge of said member, which part extends inside said member and substantially through the case and is connected thereto.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WVARNER R. BUXTON. 

